Hello everyone!
Sorry the extensive post and allow me to introduce myself first:
My name is Joao, I'm from Lisbon, Portugal, but since almost one year I moved to Warsaw, Poland.
Big change, this was the first time in many years I was without car but I promised myself that as soon as I could I would be looking for a something.
I've been flirting with Z4 (E85) for a while and few weeks ago I managed to buy my 2003 3.0i with 166000Km.
Most of you may not know, but buying second hand car in Poland is a massive adventure. You find a lot of crap shining, smelling and looking like new, but it turns that car is a junction of two or three cars.
Anyway, with a little bit of luck and instinct I managed to buy something that I consider a good deal regarding age/km/condition.
I found an advert of something I was looking. Color, wheels, extras and looked totally stock.
Prepared a list of things I wanted to know about the car and the seller and asked a colleague of mine (Polish colleague and petrolhead) to contact the guy because I don't speak Polish yet (shame on me).
They spent around one hour talking and taking notes. In the end my colleague told me: "Mate, go for it or someone will take it. Find some one that can give you a look at the car and send you a report.". If a local gives you this advice it's because it's worth.
The car was in Krakow, ~350Km south of Warsaw.
Mission for next day: Hire a service that could have an inspection on the car, send me a report and, based on that, decide.
Next day, at 7h I called some BMW experts, but they could not do the job. Frustration because I felt the clock ticking against me.
As soon as I arrived office I asked again my colleague to contact the seller saying that I was looking for someone to check the car. Bad news, he had already two visits scheduled, one for 12h and other for 14h that was coming from Warsaw.
I had to make a move. Going there? 2h train? Take a domestic flight? 50mins? I could loose the car and going there for nothing. Reserve the car without seeing? I had to do something because the car would be sold for sure.
"Ask the seller how much he wants to reserve the car", I said.
My colleague asked me 5/6 times "Are you sure?" and I replied the same amount of times "No, but do it"
Me and seller agreed that this reserve amount would be lost if I decided not take the car. All visits to check the car were canceled.
I was relieved! The car was closer to me.
Next step: Hire the inspection service. Did it even before lunch time. In the afternoon they met (inspection service and seller). Before 22h I had a very detailed report with an overall information about buying or not the car. It was a big YES!
Sent a text message in Polish (powered by Google Translator) saying that I keep the car.
"I must be crazy in buying a car without see it", I said to myself.
Few day after, took the train to Krakow, meet the seller (Who doesn't speaks English or Portuguese at all) and somehow we managed to communicate (thanks again Google Translator).
When I saw the car I felt totally in love. <3
Brief history of the car. Bought around 4 years ago in Germany (single owner) with a damage in the front wing. Damaged pieces were replaced, car was repainted (Sterling gray), new soft top (maybe new roof motor I have to confirm), refurbished 108 wheels. During the last four years the guy changed some parts in the exterior and interior (tail lights, headlights, trim parts) and he bought many others to replace that the he gave me to change. The car is in very good shape. Not a single scratch in the body. Car used in summer only. Engine without leaks and running as swiss clock.
Was a joy drive it for around 5h from Krakow to Warsaw.
Hope you had a joy as well reading this long post where I tried to share what was my adventure buying this car.
Some pictures of it:
Cheers!
Sorry the extensive post and allow me to introduce myself first:
My name is Joao, I'm from Lisbon, Portugal, but since almost one year I moved to Warsaw, Poland.
Big change, this was the first time in many years I was without car but I promised myself that as soon as I could I would be looking for a something.
I've been flirting with Z4 (E85) for a while and few weeks ago I managed to buy my 2003 3.0i with 166000Km.
Most of you may not know, but buying second hand car in Poland is a massive adventure. You find a lot of crap shining, smelling and looking like new, but it turns that car is a junction of two or three cars.
Anyway, with a little bit of luck and instinct I managed to buy something that I consider a good deal regarding age/km/condition.
I found an advert of something I was looking. Color, wheels, extras and looked totally stock.
Prepared a list of things I wanted to know about the car and the seller and asked a colleague of mine (Polish colleague and petrolhead) to contact the guy because I don't speak Polish yet (shame on me).
They spent around one hour talking and taking notes. In the end my colleague told me: "Mate, go for it or someone will take it. Find some one that can give you a look at the car and send you a report.". If a local gives you this advice it's because it's worth.
The car was in Krakow, ~350Km south of Warsaw.
Mission for next day: Hire a service that could have an inspection on the car, send me a report and, based on that, decide.
Next day, at 7h I called some BMW experts, but they could not do the job. Frustration because I felt the clock ticking against me.
As soon as I arrived office I asked again my colleague to contact the seller saying that I was looking for someone to check the car. Bad news, he had already two visits scheduled, one for 12h and other for 14h that was coming from Warsaw.
I had to make a move. Going there? 2h train? Take a domestic flight? 50mins? I could loose the car and going there for nothing. Reserve the car without seeing? I had to do something because the car would be sold for sure.
"Ask the seller how much he wants to reserve the car", I said.
My colleague asked me 5/6 times "Are you sure?" and I replied the same amount of times "No, but do it"
Me and seller agreed that this reserve amount would be lost if I decided not take the car. All visits to check the car were canceled.
I was relieved! The car was closer to me.
Next step: Hire the inspection service. Did it even before lunch time. In the afternoon they met (inspection service and seller). Before 22h I had a very detailed report with an overall information about buying or not the car. It was a big YES!
Sent a text message in Polish (powered by Google Translator) saying that I keep the car.
"I must be crazy in buying a car without see it", I said to myself.
Few day after, took the train to Krakow, meet the seller (Who doesn't speaks English or Portuguese at all) and somehow we managed to communicate (thanks again Google Translator).
When I saw the car I felt totally in love. <3
Brief history of the car. Bought around 4 years ago in Germany (single owner) with a damage in the front wing. Damaged pieces were replaced, car was repainted (Sterling gray), new soft top (maybe new roof motor I have to confirm), refurbished 108 wheels. During the last four years the guy changed some parts in the exterior and interior (tail lights, headlights, trim parts) and he bought many others to replace that the he gave me to change. The car is in very good shape. Not a single scratch in the body. Car used in summer only. Engine without leaks and running as swiss clock.
Was a joy drive it for around 5h from Krakow to Warsaw.
Hope you had a joy as well reading this long post where I tried to share what was my adventure buying this car.
Some pictures of it:
Cheers!
North West Surrey
